Mobile terminal and operation control method thereof

ABSTRACT

A mobile terminal provides a guide and feedback for a lock release operation to implement a gesture for a lock release operation at an arbitrary location and in various directions. A method of releasing a user interface lock state in a mobile terminal having a touch sensing display according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include setting the mobile terminal to a user interface lock state; detecting a contact with the touch sensing display at an arbitrary location on the touch sensing display; displaying a lock release region corresponding to the arbitrary location while maintaining a contact with the touch sensing display; displaying the movement of the contact in the lock release region; and switching the mobile terminal into a user interface lock release state when the movement of the contact in the lock release region satisfies a predetermined condition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit ofearlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Application No.10-2011-0145086, filed on Dec. 28, 2011, the contents of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal and an operationcontrol method thereof, and more particularly, to a mobile terminalhaving a touch sensing display and a method of releasing a lock statethereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Terminals can be classified into a mobile terminal and a stationaryterminal based on its mobility. Furthermore, the mobile terminal can befurther classified into a handheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminalbased on whether or not it can be directly carried by a user.

As it becomes multifunctional, the terminal can be allowed to capturestill images or moving images, play music or video files, play games,receive broadcast and the like, so as to be implemented as an integratedmultimedia player. Moreover, the improvement of the terminal may betaken into consideration in the aspect of structure or software tosupport and enhance the function of the terminal.

As an example, a mobile terminal having a touch screen may provide afunction of entering a lock state when a predetermined condition issatisfied and a function of releasing the lock state through apredetermined procedure in an attempt for solving a problem that anunintentional function is activated or deactivated by an unintentionalcontact of the touch screen in the mobile terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a mobile terminalfor providing a guide and feedback for a lock release operation toimplement a gesture for a lock release operation at an arbitrarylocation and in various directions and a method of releasing a userinterface lock state thereof.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a mobileterminal for providing a guide and feedback for a lock release operationusing an application or event for an intuitive operation and a method ofreleasing a user interface lock state thereof.

A method of releasing a user interface lock state in a mobile terminalhaving a touch sensing display according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include setting the mobile terminal to a user interfacelock state; detecting a contact with the touch sensing display at anarbitrary location on the touch sensing display; displaying a lockrelease region corresponding to the arbitrary location while maintaininga contact with the touch sensing display; displaying the movement of thecontact in the lock release region; and switching the mobile terminalinto a user interface lock release state when the movement of thecontact in the lock release region satisfies a predetermined condition.

According to an embodiment, the method may be characterized in that saiddisplaying a lock release region is displaying the lock release regionusing a lock release screen—the lock release screen is a screendisplayed when the mobile terminal is switched into the user interfacelock release state.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, the method may be characterizedin that the lock release screen is an idle screen or a screen displayedprior to the mobile terminal being set to the user interface lock state.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, said displaying a lock releaseregion may include dividing the lock release region into a plurality ofsub-regions; changing at least one of location and size of the pluralityof sub-regions, respectively; and displaying at least part of the lockrelease screen through a gap between the plurality of sub-regions.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, the method may be characterizedin that said displaying the movement of the contact is allowing at leastone sub-region corresponding to the movement of the contact to bedisappeared.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, the method may be characterizedin that said changing at least one of location and size thereof ischanging at least one of location and size of the plurality ofsub-regions, respectively, based on at least one of time, area, pressureand speed of the contact.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, the method may be characterizedin that said displaying a lock release region is displaying at leastpart of the lock release screen in a partial manner, and said displayingthe movement of the contact is displaying at least part of the lockrelease screen in a complete manner.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, said displaying a lock releaseregion may include dividing the lock release region into a plurality ofsub-regions; controlling the transparency of the plurality ofsub-regions, respectively; and displaying at least part of the lockscreen through the plurality of sub-regions.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, said displaying a lock releaseregion may include displaying a visual queue reflecting a movementdirection of the contact required to release the lock of the mobileterminal.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, the method may be characterizedin that the predetermined condition is that the movement of the contactpasses over a predetermined area.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, the method may further includemaintaining the user interface lock state when the movement of thecontact does not satisfy the predetermined condition.

On the other hand, a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may include a touch sensing display; and a controllerconfigured to set the mobile terminal to a user interface lock state,and detect a contact with the touch sensing display at an arbitrarylocation on the touch sensing display, and display a lock release regioncorresponding to the arbitrary location while maintaining a contact withthe touch sensing display, and display the movement of the contact inthe lock release region, and switch the mobile terminal into a userinterface lock release state when the movement of the contact in thelock release region satisfies a predetermined condition.

On another hand, a method of releasing a user interface lock state in amobile terminal having a touch sensing display according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may include displaying an object onthe touch sensing display in a user interface lock state; detecting acontact with the touch sensing display at a location where the objectedis displayed; displaying a lock release region corresponding to thelocation using a screen associated with the object while maintaining acontact with the touch sensing display; displaying the movement of thecontact in the lock release region; and switching the mobile terminalinto a user interface lock release state when the movement of thecontact in the lock release region satisfies a predetermined condition.

According to an embodiment, the method may further include displaying ascreen associated with the object.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, said displaying a lock releaseregion may include dividing the lock release region into a plurality ofsub-regions; changing at least one of location and size of the pluralityof sub-regions, respectively; and displaying at least part of the screenassociated with the object through a gap between the plurality ofsub-regions.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, the method may be characterizedin that said displaying the movement of the contact is allowing at leastone sub-region corresponding to the movement of the contact to bedisappeared.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, the method may be characterizedin that said displaying a lock release region is displaying at leastpart of the screen associated with the object in a partial manner, andsaid displaying the movement of the contact is displaying at least partof the screen associated with the object in a complete manner.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, the method may be characterizedin that the screen associated with the object is an application or eventcorresponding to the object.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, said displaying a lock releaseregion may include displaying a visual queue reflecting a movementdirection of the contact required to release the lock of the mobileterminal.

On still another hand, a mobile terminal according to still anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may include a touch sensingdisplay; and a controller configured to display an object on the touchsensing display in a user interface lock state, and detect a contactwith the touch sensing display at a location where the objected isdisplayed, and display a lock release region corresponding to thelocation using a screen associated with the object while maintaining acontact with the touch sensing display, and display the movement of thecontact in the lock release region, and switch the mobile terminal intoa user interface lock release state when the movement of the contact inthe lock release region satisfies a predetermined condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal 100 associatedwith an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views illustrating the externalappearance of a mobile terminal 100 associated with the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the process of switching the mobileterminal 100 into a user interface lock release state according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4A through 4E are views illustrating the display of GUI at variouspositions where a lock release operation gesture is taken according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5A through 5C are views illustrating the display of GUI at variouspositions where a lock release operation gesture is taken according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrating the display of GUI according tothe start of the lock release operation gesture according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 7A through 7C are views illustrating the display of GUI accordingto the suspension of the lock release operation gesture according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the display of GUI according to a lockrelease operation gesture according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are exemplary views illustrating a case where a lockrelease operation gesture satisfies a lock release condition accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 10A through 10C are views illustrating user feedback GUI for alock release operation gesture according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating the process of providing anapplication or event while switching the mobile terminal 100 into a userinterface lock release state according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 12A through 12E are views illustrating the display of GUI atvarious positions where a lock release operation gesture is takenaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 13A through 13C are views illustrating the display of GUI atvarious positions where a lock release operation gesture is takenaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to suchan extent that the present invention can be easily embodied by a personhaving ordinary skill in the art to which the present inventionpertains. However, the present invention may be implemented in variousdifferent forms, and therefore, the present invention is not limited tothe illustrated embodiments. In order to clearly describe the presentinvention, parts not related to the description are omitted, and likereference numerals designate like constituent elements throughout thespecification.

A mobile terminal disclosed herein may include a portable phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcast mobile device, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), anavigation, and the like. However, it would be easily understood bythose skilled in the art that a configuration according to the followingdescription may be applicable to a stationary terminal such as a digitalTV, a desktop computer, and the like, excluding constituent elementsparticularly configured for mobile purposes.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal 100 associatedwith the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 100may include a wireless communication unit 110, an audio/video (A/V)input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an outputunit 150, a memory 160, an interface unit 170, a controller 180, a powersupply unit 190, and the like. However, the constituent elements asillustrated in FIG. 1 are not necessarily required, and the mobilecommunication terminal may be implemented with greater or less number ofelements than those illustrated elements. Hereinafter, the constituentelements 110-190 of the mobile terminal 100 will be described insequence.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more elementsallowing radio communication between the mobile terminal 100 and awireless communication system, or allowing radio communication betweenthe mobile terminal 100 and a network in which the mobile terminal 100is located. For example, the wireless communication unit 110 may includea broadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, awireless Internet module 113, a short-range communication module 114, alocation information module 115, and the like.

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives broadcast signals and/orbroadcast associated information from an external broadcast managementserver through a broadcast channel. The broadcast associated informationmay mean information regarding a broadcast channel, a broadcast program,a broadcast service provider, and the like. The broadcast associatedinformation may also be provided through a mobile communication network.In this case, the broadcast associated information may be received bythe mobile communication module 112. The broadcast signal andbroadcast-associated information received through the broadcastreceiving module 111 may be stored in the memory 160.

The mobile communication module 112 transmits and/or receives a radiosignal to and/or from at least one of a base station, an externalterminal and a server over a mobile communication network. The radiosignal may include a voice call signal, a video call signal or varioustypes of data according to text and/or multimedia message transmissionand reception.

The wireless Internet module 113 as a module for supporting wirelessInternet access may be built-in or externally installed to the mobileterminal 100. A variety of wireless Internet access techniques may beused, such as WLAN (Wireless LAN), Wi-Fi, Wibro (Wireless Broadband),Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High SpeedDownlink Packet Access), and the like.

The short-range communication module 114 refers to a module forsupporting a short-range communication. A variety of short-rangecommunication technologies may be used, such as Bluetooth, RadioFrequency IDentification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), UltraWideBand (UWB), ZigBee, and the like.

The location information module 115 is a module for acquiring a locationof the mobile terminal 100, and there is a GPS module as arepresentative example.

Subsequently, referring to FIG. 1, the A/V (audio/video) input unit 120receives an audio or video signal, and the A/V (audio/video) input unit120 may include a camera 121, a microphone 122, and the like. The camera121 processes an image frame, such as still or moving images, obtainedby an image sensor in a video phone call or image capturing mode. Theprocessed image frame may be displayed on a display unit 151. The imageframes processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory 160 ortransmitted to an external device through the wireless communicationunit 110. Two or more cameras 121 may be provided according to the useenvironment of the mobile terminal.

The microphone 122 receives an external audio signal through amicrophone in a phone call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognitionmode, and the like, and processes the audio signal into electrical voicedata. The processed voice data may be converted and outputted into aformat that is transmittable to a mobile communication base stationthrough the mobile communication module 112 in the phone call mode. Themicrophone 122 may implement various types of noise canceling algorithmsto cancel noise generated during the process of receiving the externalaudio signal.

The user input unit 130 may generate input data to control an operationof the mobile terminal 100. The user input unit 130 may be configuredwith a keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad (pressure/capacitance), a jogwheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 detects presence or absence of the users contact,and a current status of the mobile terminal 100 such as an opened orclosed configuration, a location of the mobile terminal 100, anorientation of the mobile terminal 100, an acceleration or decelerationof the mobile terminal 100, and the like, and generates a sensing signalfor controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example,when the mobile terminal 100 is a slide phone type, the sensing unit 140may sense an opened or closed configuration of the slide phone.Furthermore, the sensing unit 140 may sense whether or not power issupplied from the power supply unit 190, or whether or not an externaldevice is coupled to the interface unit 170.

The sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141. Furthermore,the sensing unit 140 may include a touch sensor (not shown) for sensinga touch operation with respect to the display unit 151.

The touch sensor may be implemented as a touch film, a touch sheet, atouch pad, and the like. The touch sensor may be configured to convertchanges of a pressure applied to a specific part of the display unit151, or a capacitance generated from a specific part of the display unit151, into electric input signals. The touch sensor may be configured tosense not only a touched position and a touched area, but also a touchpressure.

When the touch sensor and display unit 151 forms an interlayerstructure, the display unit 151 may be used as an input device ratherthan an output device. The display unit 151 may be referred to as a“touch screen”.

When there is a touch input through the touch screen, the correspondingsignals may be transmitted to a touch controller (not shown). The touchcontroller processes signals transferred from the touch sensor, and thentransmits data corresponding to the processed signals to the controller180. Accordingly, the controller 180 may sense which region of thedisplay unit 151 has been touched.

When the touch screen is a capacitance type, the proximity of a sensingobject may be detected by changes of an electromagnetic field accordingto the proximity of a sensing object. The touch screen may becategorized into a proximity sensor 141.

The proximity sensor 141 refers to a sensor for detecting the presenceor absence of a sensing object using an electromagnetic field orinfrared rays without a mechanical contact. The proximity sensor 141 hasa longer lifespan and more enhanced utility than a contact sensor. Theproximity sensor 141 may include an optical transmission typephotoelectric sensor, a direct reflective type photoelectric sensor, amirror reflective type photoelectric sensor, a high-frequencyoscillation proximity sensor, a capacitance type proximity sensor, amagnetic type proximity sensor, an infrared rays proximity sensor, andthe like.

Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the behavior ofa sensing object being placed in proximity with the touch screen withoutbeing brought into contact with the touch screen may be referred to as a“proximity touch”, whereas the behavior of a sensing object beingbrought into contact with the touch screen may be referred to as a“contact touch”.

The proximity sensor 141 may sense the presence or absence of aproximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (for example, a proximitytouch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch velocity,a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, a proximity touchmoving state, etc.) Information corresponding to the presence or absenceof a proximity touch and the proximity touch pattern may be displayed onthe touch screen.

The output unit 150 may generate an output associated with visual,auditory, tactile senses. The output unit 150 may include a display unit151, an audio output module 153, an alarm unit 154, a haptic module 155,and the like.

The display unit 151 may display (output) information processed in themobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 isoperated in a phone call mode, the display unit 151 may display a userinterface (UI) or graphic user interface (GUI) associated with a phonecall. When the mobile terminal 100 is operated in a video call mode orimage capturing mode, the display unit 151 may display a captured image,a received image, UI, GUI, or the like.

The display unit 151 may include at least one of a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD),an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a flexible display, athree-dimensional (3D) display, and an e-ink display.

At least one of those displays (or display devices) included in thedisplay unit 151 may be configured with a transparent or opticaltransparent type to allow the user to view the outside therethrough. Itmay be referred to as a transparent display. A representative example ofthe transparent display may be a transparent OLED (TOLED), and the like.Under this configuration, the user can view an object positioned at arear side of the mobile device body through a region occupied by thedisplay unit 151 of the mobile device body.

There may exist two or more display units 151 according to theimplementation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, a plurality ofthe display units 151 may be placed on one surface in a separate orintegrated manner, or may be place on different surfaces, respectively.

The audio output module 152 may output audio data received from thewireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 160, in acall-receiving mode, a call-placing mode, a recording mode, a voicerecognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, and the like. The audiooutput module 152 may output an audio signal associated with a functioncarried out in the mobile terminal 100 (for example, sound alarming acall received or a message received, and the like). The audio outputmodule 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The alarm unit 153 outputs signals notifying the occurrence of an eventfrom the mobile terminal 100. The examples of an event occurring fromthe mobile terminal 100 may include a call received, a message received,a key signal input, a touch input, and the like. The alarm unit 153 mayoutput not only video or audio signals, but also other types of signalssuch as signals for notifying the occurrence of an event in a vibrationmanner. Since the video or audio signals may be also output through thedisplay unit 151 or the audio output unit 152, the display unit 151 andthe audio output module 152 may be categorized into part of the alarmunit 153.

The haptic module 154 generates various tactile effects that can be feltby the user. A representative example of the tactile effects generatedby the haptic module 154 may include vibration. Vibration generated bythe haptic module 155 may have a controllable intensity, a controllablepattern, and the like. For example, different vibrations may be outputin a synthesized manner or in a sequential manner.

The haptic module 154 may generate various tactile effects, includingnot only vibration, but also arrangement of pins vertically moved withrespect to a skin surface being touched, air injection force or airsuction force through an injection port or suction port, touch by a skinsurface, contact with an electrode, effects by stimulus such as anelectrostatic force, reproduction of cold or hot feeling using a heatabsorbing device or heat emitting device, and the like.

The haptic module 154 may be configured to transmit tactile effectsthrough the user's direct contact, or the user's muscular sense using afinger or a hand. Two or more haptic modules 155 may be providedaccording to the configuration of the mobile terminal 100.

The memory 160 may store a program for operating the controller 180, ortemporarily store input/output data (for example, phonebooks, messages,still images, moving images, and the like). The memory 160 may storedata related to various patterns of vibrations and sounds outputted whenperforming a touch input on the touch screen.

The memory 160 may be implemented using any type of suitable storagemedium including a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimediacard micro type, a memory card type (e.g., SD or DX memory), RandomAccess Memory (RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read-OnlyMemory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory(EEPROM), Programmable Read-only Memory (PROM), magnetic memory,magnetic disk, optical disk, and the like. Also, the mobile terminal 100may operate a web storage which performs the storage function of thememory 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 may generally be implemented to interface theportable terminal with external devices. The interface unit 170 mayallow a data reception from an external device, a power delivery to eachcomponent in the mobile terminal 100, or a data transmission from themobile terminal 100 to an external device. The interface unit 170 mayinclude, for example, wired/wireless headset ports, external chargerports, wired/wireless data ports, memory card ports, ports for couplingdevices having an identification module, audio Input/Output (I/O) ports,video I/O ports, earphone ports, and the like.

The identification module may be configured as a chip for storingvarious information required to authenticate an authority to use themobile terminal 100, which may include a User Identity Module (UIM), aSubscriber Identity Module (SIM), and the like. Also, the device havingthe identification module (hereinafter, referred to as “identificationdevice”) may be implemented in a type of smart card. Hence, theidentification device can be coupled to the mobile terminal 100 via aport.

The interface unit 170 may serve as a path for power to be supplied froman external cradle to the mobile terminal 100 when the mobile terminal100 is connected to the external cradle or as a path for transferringvarious command signals inputted from the cradle by a user to the mobileterminal 100. Such various command signals or power inputted from thecradle may operate as signals for recognizing that the mobile terminal100 has accurately been mounted to the cradle.

The controller 180 typically controls the overall operations of themobile terminal 100. For example, the controller 180 performs thecontrol and processing associated with telephony calls, datacommunications, video calls, and the like. The controller 180 mayinclude a multimedia module 181 which provides multimedia playback. Themultimedia module 181 may be configured as part of the controller 180 oras a separate component. The controller 180 can perform a patternrecognition processing so as to recognize a handwriting or drawing inputon the touch screen as text or image.

The power supply unit 190 may receive external or internal power toprovide power required by various components under the control of thecontroller 180.

Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in a computer orsimilar device readable medium using software, hardware, or anycombination thereof.

For hardware implementation, it may be implemented by using at least oneof application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signalprocessors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs),programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors,and electrical units designed to perform the functions described herein.In some cases, such embodiments may be implemented in the controller 180itself.

For software implementation, the embodiments such as procedures orfunctions may be implemented together with separate software modulesthat allow performing of at least one function or operation. Softwarecodes can be implemented by a software application written in anysuitable programming language. The software codes may be stored in thememory 160 and executed by the controller 180.

Hereinafter, the method of processing a user input to the mobileterminal 100 will be described.

The user input unit 130 is manipulated to receive a command forcontrolling the operation of the mobile terminal 100, and may include aplurality of manipulation units. The manipulation units may be commonlydesignated as a manipulating portion, and any method may be employed ifit is a tactile manner allowing the user to perform manipulation with atactile feeling.

Various kinds of visual information may be displayed on the display unit151. The visual information may be displayed in the form of a character,a numeral, a symbol, a graphic, an icon, and the like. For an input ofthe visual information, at least one of a character, a numeral, asymbol, a graphic, and an icon may be displayed with a predeterminedarrangement so as to be implemented in the form of a keypad. Such akeypad may be referred to as a so-called “soft key.”

The display unit 151 may operate on an entire region or operate bydividing into a plurality of regions. In case of the latter, theplurality of regions may be configured to operate in an associative way.For example, an output window and an input window may be displayed onthe upper and lower portions of the display unit 151, respectively. Theoutput window and the input window may be regions allocated to output orinput information, respectively. A soft key on which numerals forinputting a phone number or the like are displayed is outputted on theinput window. When the soft key is touched, a numeral corresponding tothe touched soft key is displayed on the output window. When the firstmanipulating unit is manipulated, a phone call connection for the phonenumber displayed on the output window will be attempted or a textdisplayed on the output window will be entered to the application.

The display unit 151 or touch pad may be configured to sense a touchscroll. The user may move an object displayed on the display unit 151,for example, a cursor or pointer placed on an icon or the like, byscrolling the display unit 151 or touch pad. Moreover, when a finger ismoved on the display unit 151 or touch pad, a path being moved by thefinger may be visually displayed on the display unit 151. It may beuseful to edit an image displayed on the display unit 151.

In order to cope with a case where the display unit 151 and touch padare touched together within a predetermined period of time, one functionof the terminal 100 may be implemented. For the case of being touchedtogether, there is a case when the user clamps a body of the mobileterminal 100 using his or her thumb and forefinger. For one of the abovefunctions implemented in the mobile terminal 100, for example, there maybe an activation or de-activation for the display unit 151 or touch pad.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views illustrating the externalappearance of a mobile terminal 100 associated with the presentinvention. FIG. 2A is a front and a side view illustrating the mobileterminal 100, and FIG. 2B is a rear and the other side view illustratingthe mobile terminal 100.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the mobile terminal 100 disclosed herein isprovided with a bar-type terminal body. However, the present inventionis not only limited to this type of terminal, but also applicable tovarious structures of terminals such as slide type, folder type, swiveltype, swing type, and the like, in which two and more bodies arecombined with each other in a relatively movable manner.

The terminal body includes a case (casing, housing, cover, etc.) formingan appearance of the terminal. In this embodiment, the case may bedivided into a front case 101 and a rear case 102. Various electroniccomponents may be integrated in a space formed between the front case101 and the rear case 102. At least one middle case may be additionallydisposed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102.

The cases may be formed by injection-molding a synthetic resin or may bealso formed of a metal material such as stainless steel (STS), titanium(Ti), or the like.

A display unit 151, an audio output module 152, a camera 121, a userinput unit 130 (refer to FIG. 1), a microphone 122, an interface 170,and the like may be arranged on the terminal body, mainly on the frontcase 101.

The display unit 151 occupies a most portion of the front case 101. Theaudio output unit 152 and the camera 121 are disposed on a regionadjacent to one of both ends of the display unit 151, and the user inputunit 131 and the microphone 122 are disposed on a region adjacent to theother end thereof. The user interface 132 and the interface 170, and thelike, may be disposed on a lateral surface of the front case 101 and therear case 102.

The user input unit 130 is manipulated to receive a command forcontrolling the operation of the portable terminal 100. The user inputunit 130 may include a plurality of manipulation units 131, 132.

The manipulation units 131, 132 may receive various commands. Forexample, the first manipulation unit 131 may be used to receive acommand, such as start, end, scroll, or the like. The secondmanipulation unit 132 may be used to receive a command, such ascontrolling a volume level being outputted from the audio output unit152, or switching it into a touch recognition mode of the display unit151.

Referring to FIG. 2B, a camera 121′ may be additionally mounted on arear surface of the terminal body, namely, the rear case 102. The rearcamera 121′ has an image capturing direction, which is substantiallyopposite to the direction of the front camera 121 (refer to FIG. 2A),and may have different number of pixels from those of the front camera121.

For example, that the front camera 121 may be configured to have arelatively small number of pixels, and the rear camera 121′ may beconfigured to have a relatively large number of pixels. Accordingly, incase where the front camera 121 is used for video communication, it maybe possible to reduce the size of transmission data when the usercaptures his or her own face and sends it to the other party in realtime. On the other hand, the rear camera 121′ may be used for thepurpose of storing high quality images.

On the other hand, the cameras 121, 121′ may be provided in the terminalbody in a rotatable and popupable manner.

Furthermore, a flash 123 and a mirror 124 may be additionally disposedadjacent to the rear camera 121′. The flash 123 illuminates light towardan object when capturing the object with the camera 121′. The mirror 124allows the user to look at his or her own face, or the like, in areflected way when capturing himself or herself (in a self-portraitmode) by using the rear camera 121′.

Furthermore, a rear audio output unit 152′ may be additionally disposedon a rear surface of the terminal body. The rear audio output unit 152′together with the front audio output unit 152 (refer to FIG. 2A) canimplement a stereo function, and it may be also used to implement aspeaker phone mode during a phone call.

Furthermore, an antenna 116 for receiving broadcast signals may beadditionally disposed on a lateral surface of the terminal body. Theantenna 116 constituting part of a broadcast receiving module 111 (referto FIG. 1) may be provided so as to be pulled out from the terminalbody.

Furthermore, a power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the portableterminal 100 may be mounted on the terminal body. The power supply unit190 may be configured so as to be incorporated in the terminal body, ordirectly detachable from the outside of the terminal body.

A touch pad 135 for detecting a touch may be additionally mounted on therear case 102. The touch pad 135 may be also configured with an opticaltransmission type, similarly to the display unit 151 (refer to FIG. 2A).Alternatively, a rear display unit for displaying visual information maybe additionally mounted on the touch pad 135. At this time, informationdisplayed on the both surfaces of the front display unit 151 and reardisplay unit may be controlled by the touch pad 135.

The touch pad 135 may be operated in conjunction with the display unit151 of the front case 101. The touch pad 135 may be disposed in parallelat a rear side of the display unit 151. The touch pad 135 may have thesame size as or a smaller size than the display unit 151.

The mobile terminal 100 may have a plurality of user interface states.The user interface state is a state in which the mobile terminal 100responds to the users input in a predetermined manner. According to anembodiment, the plurality of user interface states may include a userinterface lock state and a user interface lock release state. Accordingto an embodiment, the plurality of user interface states may include aplurality of application states.

In case of the user interface lock state (hereinafter, referred to as a“lock state”), the mobile terminal 100 can be powered on and operatedbut most of the users inputs are ignored even though all of them are notignored. In other words, the mobile terminal 100 does not take anyaction in response to the users input and/or the implementation of apredetermined operation set in response to the users input isprohibited. The predetermined operation set may include a navigationbetween the activation and deactivation of a predetermined function setto the user interface. A lock state may be used to prevent the use of anunintentional or non-authenticated mobile terminal 100 or the activationor deactivation of a function on the mobile terminal 100. In case wherethe mobile terminal 100 is in a lock state, it may be said that themobile terminal 100 is locked. According to an embodiment, the mobileterminal 100 in a lock state may respond to an input corresponding to anattempt for switching the mobile terminal 100 into a user interface lockrelease state or a restrictive user input set including an inputcorresponding to the power off of the mobile terminal 100. In otherwords, the mobile terminal 100 in a lock state responds to a user inputcorresponding to an attempt for switching the mobile terminal 100 into auser interface lock release state or turning power off the mobileterminal 100, but does not respond to a user input corresponding to anavigation attempt between user interfaces. Even if the mobile terminal100 ignores a user input, during the detection of the input, the mobileterminal 100 should recognize to provide a sensing feedback (such as avisual, auditory or vibration feedback) displaying that the input willbe still ignored to the user.

In an embodiment of the mobile terminal 100 having a touch screen, whilethe mobile terminal 100 is in a lock state, for a predeterminedoperation set such as a navigation between user interfaces, theoperation responding to a contact on the touch screen when the mobileterminal 100 is in a lock state will be prohibited. In other words, whena contact is ignored by the locked mobile terminal 100, it may be saidthat the touch screen is locked. However, the locked mobile terminal 100may still respond to a contact in a limited range on the touch screen.The limited range may include a contact determined by the mobileterminal 100 corresponding to an attempt for switching the mobileterminal 100 into a user interface lock release state.

In case of a user interface lock release state (hereinafter, referred toas a “lock release state”), the mobile terminal 100 is in a normaloperation state, and detects and responds to a user input correspondingto an interaction with a user interface. The mobile terminal 100 in alock release state may be referred to as a lock released mobile terminal100. The lock released mobile terminal 100 detects and responds to auser input for activating or deactivating a navigation between userinterfaces, a data input and a function. In the mobile terminal 100including a touch screen according to an embodiment, the lock releasedmobile terminal 100 detects and responds to a contact corresponding tothe activation and deactivation of a navigation between user interfaces,a data input and a function through the touch screen.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the process of switching the mobileterminal 100 into a user interface lock release state according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. As used herein, switching from astate to another state refers to performing a process from a state toanother state. The process may be carried out at once, substantially atonce, at gradual or other suitable speed. The progress of the processmay be automatically controlled by a device such as the mobile terminal100 regardless of the user or controlled by the user when the process isactivated once. The process flow described below may include numerousoperations seemed to occur in a specific sequence, but it should berecognized that such a process may include a greater or less number ofoperations that can be implemented in series or parallel (for example,using a parallel processor or multi-threading environment).

The mobile terminal 100 is set to a lock state (S110). The mobileterminal 100 may be set to a lock state when one or more lock conditionsare satisfied (in other words, complete switching from another state toa lock state). The lock condition may include an event such as passing apredetermined deactive time, entering an active call, or turning poweron the mobile terminal 100. The lock condition may include the usersintervention, namely, the user's action of locking the mobile terminal100 by a predetermined user input. In some embodiments, the user mayspecify an event to be functioned as a lock condition. For example, theuser may configure the mobile terminal 100 to be switched to a lockstate, not when the mobile terminal 100 is powered on, but when apredetermined deactive time has passed. In a lock state, the mobileterminal 100 may display a predetermined screen to be displayed in thelock state.

The lock release operation may include a contact with the touch screen.According to an embodiment, the lock release operation is a gesture forsatisfying a predetermined condition carried out on the touch screen. Asused herein, the gesture is a motion of an object/accessory brought intocontact with the touch screen. For example, the gesture for satisfying apredetermined condition may include a contact with the touch screen atan arbitrary tile (assumed that the touch screen is divided into aplurality of tiles) (a start of the gesture), a movement of a touchposition to a tile adjacent to the contacted tile while maintaining thecontact with the touch screen, repetition of the movement of a contactposition as many as a predefined number of tiles (an end of thegesture).

While the touch screen is locked, the user may start a contact with thetouch screen, namely, give a touch to the touch screen. For theconvenience of description, according to the present embodiment and thefollowing embodiment, it is described below that a touch on the touchscreen is carried out by the user using at least one hand using at leastone or more fingers. However, it should be recognized to be brought intocontact with using another suitable object or accessory such as astylus, a finger, and the like. The contact may include one or more tapsto the touch screen while maintaining a continuous contact with thetouch screen, a movement of a contact position while maintaining acontinuous contact, termination of a contact, or a combination thereof.

The mobile terminal 100 detects a contact at an arbitrary location onthe touch screen (S120). The arbitrary location refers to any one (forexample, an edge or middle position) of a plurality of locationspreviously determined to detect a contact on the touch screen. Forexample, when a contact is detected in the entire region of the touchscreen, any one location of the entire region may be the arbitrarylocation. When a contact is detected in a partial region of the touchscreen, any one location of the partial region may be the arbitrarylocation. In this case, the mobile terminal 100 allows the partialregion to be displayed in a distinguished manner, thereby allowing theuser to recognize a region that should be brought into contact with. Themobile terminal 100 allows the entire region of the touch screen to bedivided into a plurality of tiles such as rectangles having apredetermined size, thereby acquiring information on a tilecorresponding to any location at which a contact is detected on thetouch screen.

The mobile terminal 100 displays a lock release region corresponding toany location at which a contact is detected on the touch screen whilemaintaining the contact with the touch screen (S130). The lock releaseregion is a screen set to be displayed in a lock release state, forexample, displaying an idle screen or a screen displayed prior to themobile terminal 100 being set to a lock state in step S110. For example,at least one of location and size of surrounding adjacent tilesincluding a tile corresponding to any location at which a contact isdetected on the touch screen may be changed, thereby allowing the lockrelease screen to be displayed through a gap between tiles. The tilesmay be moved during the process of being rearranged and while the lockrelease region is displayed on the touch screen. For example, the tilesmay be moved while being rotated through their own axes. Whileinformation displayed by each tile itself is contained as it is, atleast one of location and size thereof is changed to be displayed. Amismatch of boundaries can generate a gap while the tiles are rearrangedin an arbitrary manner. The mobile terminal 100 can reveal a lockrelease screen that has been hidden by the lock screen through a gap.The lock release region implies that the movement of a contact carriedout in the lock release region can switch the mobile terminal 100 into alock release state. In other words, a border of the lock release regionreflects a boundary line of the lock release operation. Accordingly, theuser recognizes that the lock state of the mobile terminal 100 can bereleased by moving a contact from an inside of the lock release regionto an outside of the lock release region on the touch screen.

The mobile terminal 100 displays the movement of a contact in the lockrelease region (S140). The movement of a contact in the lock releaseregion may be a feedback to the user's gesture for releasing the lock.For example, at least one tile corresponding to the movement of acontact in the lock release region among tiles formed in the step S130may be allowed to be disappeared to display the movement of a contact inthe lock release region. Accordingly, the user can recognize that thelock state is released according to the movement of a contact so thatthe lock release screen can be completely displayed as well as recognizethat the movement of a contact in the lock release region is beingproperly carried out. It may be a guideline for the user to perform alock release operation.

When the movement of a contact corresponds to a successful behavior ofthe lock release operation in step S150, namely, when the usersuccessfully performs the lock release operation, the mobile terminal100 is switched into a lock release state (S160). For example, when thelock release operation is a contact with the touch screen at anarbitrary tile (a start of the gesture), a movement of a touch positionto a tile adjacent to the arbitrary tile while maintaining the contactwith the touch screen, repetition of the movement of a contact positionas many as a predefined number of tiles (an end of the gesture), themobile terminal 100 is switched into a lock release state.

When the contact does not correspond to an attempt for performing a lockrelease operation or the contact corresponds to a failure or suspensionof the attempt by the user performing a lock release operation in stepS150, the mobile terminal 100 maintains a lock release state (S170). Forexample, when the lock release operation is a contact with the touchscreen at an arbitrary tile (a start of the gesture), a movement of atouch position to a tile adjacent to the arbitrary tile whilemaintaining the contact with the touch screen, repetition of themovement of a contact position as many as a predefined number of tiles(an end of the gesture), the mobile terminal 100 maintains a lock statebecause the contact does not correspond to a lock release operation.

According to an embodiment, the mobile terminal 100 starts the processof switching into a lock release state when detecting any contact on thetouch screen and suspends the switching immediately when the contactdoes not correspond to a lock release operation or is determined as afailed/suspended lock release operation. For example, when the lockrelease operation is a gesture satisfying a predetermined condition, themobile terminal 100 starts the process of switching into a lock releasestate immediately when detecting a contact of the initial gesture, andcontinuously advances the switching when the gesture is carried out. Ifthe user suspends the gesture prior to completing the switching, thenthe mobile terminal 100 suspends the switching and remains in a lockstate. If the gesture is completed, then the mobile terminal 100completes the switching into a lock release state. For another example,when the lock release operation is a horizontal movement of the contactposition for crossing the touch screen while maintaining a continuouscontact with the touch screen and the user taps the touch screen once,the mobile terminal 100 starts a state switching process while sensingthe tap but immediately suspends the process since it is recognized thatthe tap is merely a tap and does not correspond to the lock releaseoperation.

When the mobile terminal 100 is lock-released, the mobile terminal 100may display user interface objects corresponding to one or morefunctions and/or information interested by the user on the touch screen.As an object constituting a user interface of the mobile terminal 100,the user interface object may unrestrictedly include a text, an image,an icon, a soft key (or “virtual button”), a pull down menu, a radiobutton, a check box, a selectable list, and the like. The displayed userinterface object may include a non-interactive object with an attributefor transferring information or viewing and feeling the user interface,an interactive object for interacting with the user or a combinationthereof. The user may make contact with the touch screen at one or morelocations of the touch screen corresponding to an interactive object tointeract therewith, thereby interacting with the user interface object.The mobile terminal 100 may perform an operation corresponding to aninteraction with the interactive object to detect a contact and respondto the detected contact.

When the mobile terminal 100 is locked, the user can make contact withthe touch screen. However, the locked mobile terminal 100 is prohibitedto perform a predetermined operation set in response to the detectedcontact until the mobile terminal 100 is lock-released. The prohibitedpredetermined operation set may include a navigation between userinterfaces and data input by the user.

According to an embodiment, the mobile terminal 100 displays one or morevisual cues for a lock release operation by which the user can performlock release on the touch screen. A visual cue provides a hint or theremainder of the lock release operation to the user. The visual cue maybe a text, a graphic or a combination thereof. According to anembodiment, the visual cue is displayed when a specific event occurswhile the mobile terminal 100 is locked. The specific event for startingthe display of a visual cue may include an incoming call or message, orother events requiring the users notice. According to an embodiment, thevisual cue may be displayed during a specific user input such as whenthe user interacts with a menu button, when the user makes contact witha locked touch screen and/or when the user interacts with otherinput/control devices. When a visual cue is not displayed thereon, thelocked mobile terminal 100 may reduce the power consumption of the touchscreen (helpful to power reservation) or display other objects such asinformation interested by the user (for example, a remaining amount ofbattery, date and time, and network strength) on the touch screen.

If a contact is detected on the touch screen while the mobile terminal100 is locked, then the mobile terminal 100 may display one or morevisual cues to the lock release operation. According to an embodiment,the mobile terminal 100 may display a lock release region along with thevisual cue. According to an embodiment, when the lock release operationis not completed, the display of GUI may display a reverse advancementinto a lock state.

According to an embodiment, the mobile terminal 100 provides anon-visual feedback in addition to a visual feed to display theadvancement to the completion of a lock release operation. Theadditional feedback may include an auditory feedback (for instance,sound) or a physical feedback (for instance, vibration).

FIGS. 4A through 4E are views illustrating the display of GUI at variouspositions where a lock release operation gesture is taken according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the mobile terminal 200 may include a touch screenfor displaying a lock screen 202 in a lock state. According to anembodiment, the touch screen may be in a sleep mode and/or a state inwhich nothing is displayed thereon at first, and may be displayed by themobile terminal 100 when an event requiring the user's notice occurs(for example, incoming call or message) or during the users intervention(for example, a menu button (not shown) for displaying a lock screen isdisplayed while the mobile terminal 100 is locked). The lock screen 202may cover a lock release screen.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the user makes contact with the touch screen ofthe mobile terminal 200 using his or her finger to start a lock releaseoperation. The user can make contact with the touch screen at anarbitrary location. The users contact to the touch screen at anarbitrary location is detected by the mobile terminal 200, and themobile terminal 200 displays a lock release region 206 corresponding tothe contacted location. The lock release region 206 may be displayed onthe touch screen while the contact on the touch screen is maintained. Asdescribed above, the mobile terminal 100 may divide the touch screeninto a plurality of tiles, and reconfigure at least one of location andsize of tiles constituting the lock release region 206 including a tilecorresponding to the location brought into contact by the user on thetouch screen to reveal the lock release screen 204 at a gap betweentiles. In this case, the mobile terminal 100 may allow a tilecorresponding to the location brought into contact by the user on thetouch screen to be disappeared to completely reveal the lock releasescreen for the disappeared tile portion.

Referring to FIG. 4C, the user moves his or her finger while maintaininga continuous contact with the touch screen, thereby participating in theprocess of taking a gesture. As a result of the gesture, a tilecorresponding to the location brought into contact by the user on thetouch screen may be disappeared by the movement of the contact tocompletely reveal the lock release screen for the disappeared tileportion. In this case, an animation effect may be implemented such thata tile corresponding to the movement of the contact is rotated around apredetermined axis, flown out of the screen, or disappeared.

Referring to FIG. 4D, the user moves his or her finger while maintaininga continuous contact with the touch screen, thereby participating in theprocess of taking a gesture. As a result of the gesture, a tilecorresponding to the location brought into contact by the user on thetouch screen may be disappeared by the movement of the contact tocompletely reveal the lock release screen for the disappeared tileportion. When the movement of the user's contact satisfies apredetermined condition (for example, when brought into contact withthree or more tiles), and if the user releases his or her finger fromthe touch screen, then the lock release operation is completed. Duringthe completion of a lock release gesture, the mobile terminal 200 islock-released to display a user interface object associated with anormal operation of the mobile terminal 200. FIG. 4E illustrates anexample of a user interface object that can be displayed when the mobileterminal 200 is lock-released.

Referring to FIG. 4E, the mobile terminal 200 displays the lock releasescreen 204. The lock release screen 204 may include at least one menu.The menu may include interactive user interface objects corresponding tovarious application or operations. The user interacts with the userinterface object to perform application activation or operation.However, when lock release is carried out, the mobile terminal 200 maydisplay an additional or alternative user interface object.

FIGS. 5A through 5C are views illustrating the display of GUI at variouspositions where a lock release operation gesture is taken according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure.

Alternatively, in FIGS. 5A through 5C, the mobile terminal 200 mayprovide a guide and feedback for a lock release operation to the user ina different manner from the foregoing tile effect.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the user make contact with the touch screen of themobile terminal 200 using his or her finger to start a lock releaseoperation. Similarly, the user can make contact with the touch screen atan arbitrary location. The users contact with the touch screen at anarbitrary location is detected by the mobile terminal 200, and themobile terminal 200 displays a lock release region corresponding to thecontacted location. The lock release region may be continuouslydisplayed while the user maintains a contact on the touch screen. Themobile terminal 200 allows the lock release screen to be displayedthrough the lock release region by reducing the transparency of the lockrelease region. In this case, the mobile terminal 100 may reduce thetransparency of a portion corresponding to the location brought intocontact by the user on the touch screen to the lowest level, therebyremarkably revealing the lock release screen for the portion. During theprocess of controlling the transparency, a wave may be generated from aportion brought into contact with collected water by the finger toimplement an effect of water being cleared away.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the user moves his or her finger while maintaininga continuous contact with the touch screen, thereby participating in theprocess of taking a gesture. As a result of the gesture, thetransparency of a portion corresponding to the location brought intocontact by the user on the touch screen by the movement of the contactmay be reduced to the lowest level to completely reveal the lock releasescreen for the relevant portion.

Referring to FIG. 5C, the user moves his or her finger while maintaininga continuous contact with the touch screen, thereby participating in theprocess of taking a gesture. As a result of the gesture, thetransparency of a portion corresponding to the location brought intocontact by the user on the touch screen may be reduced to the lowestlevel by the movement of the contact to completely reveal the lockrelease screen for the relevant portion. When the movement of the userscontact satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, when broughtinto contact with three or more tiles), and if the user releases his orher finger from the touch screen, then the lock release operation iscompleted. During the completion of a lock release gesture, the mobileterminal 200 is lock-released to display a user interface objectassociated with a normal operation of the mobile terminal 200 asillustrated in the foregoing FIG. 4E.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrating the display of GUI according tothe start of the lock release operation gesture according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6A, as described above, the mobile terminal 100 maydivide the touch screen into a plurality of tiles, and reconfigure atleast one of location and size of tiles constituting the lock releaseregion 206 including a tile corresponding to the location brought intocontact by the user on the touch screen to reveal the lock releasescreen 204 at a gap between tiles. In this case, the mobile terminal 100may allow a tile corresponding to the location brought into contact bythe user on the touch screen to be disappeared to completely reveal thelock release screen for the disappeared tile portion. As describedabove, the mobile terminal 100 may divide the touch screen into aplurality of tiles. At least one of location and size of tilesconstituting the lock release region 206 including a tile correspondingto the location brought into contact by the user on the touch screen maybe changed. Accordingly, the lock release screen 204 may be revealed ata gap between tiles. In this case, an effect may be implemented suchthat at least one of location and size of tiles constituting the lockrelease screen 204 is concaved around the contacted location. It meansan effect that a tile corresponding to the center of the lock releaseregion 206 is displayed to be visually concaved in the largest scale (byreducing the tile size or reducing the depth value), and tiles locatedat the outside thereof are displayed to be gradually concaved in a smallscale (by increasing the tile size or increasing the depth value). Thesize of a gap between tiles may vary according to the size and locationof the tiles. Accordingly, a three-dimensional effect may be formed inthe lock release region 206. On the other hand, the attribute of acontact may determine a level of the three-dimensional effect in thelock release region 206. For example, the level of the three-dimensionaleffect formed by tiles constituting the lock release region 206 may bedetermined based on at least one of time, area, pressure and speed ofthe contact with the touch screen.

Referring to FIG. 6B, when the user makes contact with the touch screenfor a more long time, through a larger area, with a more strongerpressure, or with a quicker speed, a relative size difference may beincreased as tiles constituting the lock release region 206 are locatedaway from the center to the outside. A greater three-dimensional effectmay be formed as increasing the relative size difference between tiles,and it means that a larger portion of the lock release screen 204 can berevealed in the lock release region 206.

FIGS. 7A through 7C are views illustrating the display of GUI accordingto the suspension of the lock release operation gesture according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an embodiment, when the operation of a lock releaseoperation is failed, the lock release region is disappeared again.

Referring to FIG. 7A, the user makes contact with an arbitrary locationon the touch screen, and moves the contact, thereby providing a feedbackindicating the movement of the contact. For example, a portioncorresponding to the relevant tile of the lock release screen 204 may beremarkably displayed by allowing a tile corresponding to the movement ofthe contact to be disappeared.

Referring to FIG. 7B, when the users contact with the touch screen issuspended prior to satisfying a predetermined condition (for example,making contact with three tiles), the lock release operation is failed.When selected by the user, the mobile terminal 200 may restore tilesconstituting the lock release region 206 and tiles that has beendisappeared to an original state while allowing the user to attempt alock release operation again. In this case, tiles constituting the lockrelease region 206 and tiles that has been disappeared may be restoredto an original state along with an animation effect such as reproducinga content in a reverse manner while reproducing and rewinding thecontent.

Referring to FIG. 7C, the mobile terminal 200 returns to a state priorto the user making contact on the touch screen. In other words, theinitially displayed lock screen 202 is displayed on the touch screen.The mobile terminal 200 returns to a sleep mode again when any gestureis not taken for a predetermined period of time.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the display of GUI according to a lockrelease operation gesture according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 8, the user's contact with the touch screen at anarbitrary location is detected by the mobile terminal 200, and themobile terminal 200 reveals the lock release screen 204 in the lockrelease region 206 containing a tile at the contacted location. At thesame time, the mobile terminal 200 displays a visual cue. Theillustrated visual cue indicates a path along which a contact should bemoved by the user to release the lock state of the mobile terminal 200subsequent to making contact with the touch screen. The visual cue mayinclude one or more arrows 210 indicating movement directions. Thevisual cue reminds the user that the movement from a position where theuser's contact is started to a path indicated by the visual cuesatisfies a predetermined condition for releasing the lock state of themobile terminal 200. However, it should be understood that a visual cueillustrated in FIG. 8 is merely illustrative, and a greater or lessnumber of visual cues or other visual cues or other sensitive cues suchas vibration (tactile cue) can be used. The content with a visual cuemay reflect a feature of the lock release operation.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are exemplary views illustrating a case where a lockrelease operation gesture satisfies a lock release condition accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As described above, when the user's contact with the touch screensatisfies a predetermined condition, the mobile terminal 200 may beswitched into a lock release state. The predetermined condition may be acontact with several number of tiles constituting the touch screen, forexample.

Referring to FIG. 9A, when the user makes contact with an arbitrarylocation of the touch screen, the lock release region 212 containing aplurality of tiles around a tile corresponding to the contacted locationmay be formed. The lock release region 212 is a region for partiallyexposing an idle screen or a screen displayed by the mobile terminal 200prior to the lock state as described above. It is assumed that themobile terminal 200 is switched to a lock release screen when themovement of the users contact with the touch screen is brought intocontact with at least three tiles. In other words, if the movement ofthe users contact with the touch screen is brought into contact withtiles 214 displayed in a visually divided manner, it is determined tosatisfy the condition, and thus the mobile terminal 200 can release alock state. Alternatively, the condition may further include anoperation for releasing a contact from the lock release region 212 atthe end of the operation. For example, when the movement of the userscontact is brought into contact with tiles 214 and the contact iscontinuously moved and gets out of the lock release region 212, the lockstate of the mobile terminal 200 may be released.

Referring to FIG. 9B, even when the movement of the user's contact isbrought into contact with tiles 216 and the user suspends the contactand released from the touch screen, the lock state of the mobileterminal 200 may be released. The shape of tiles may reflect theauthentication information of a lock release operation. In other words,the mobile terminal 200 may release the lock state only when a specificshape of tiles are brought into contact therewith, and the mobileterminal 200 does not release the lock state when other shape of tilesare brought into contact therewith.

FIGS. 10A through 10C are views illustrating user feedback GUI for alock release operation gesture according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10A, while the users contact with the touch screen ismoved, the contacted tiles 218 may be disappeared. Accordingly, aportion corresponding to the tiles disappeared from the lock releasescreen may be remarkably revealed. A user feedback to a lock releaseoperation gesture in FIG. 10A may reflect the location of the contactedtiles.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the tiles 220 in a similar direction to the tiles218 may be disappeared together with the tiles 218 contacted while theuser's contact with the touch screen is moved. Accordingly, a portioncorresponding to the tiles disappeared from the lock release screen maybe remarkably revealed.

Referring to FIG. 10C, while the users contact with the touch screen ismoved, the tiles 220 in all directions may be disappeared together withthe tiles 218 contacted while the users contact with the touch screen ismoved. Accordingly, a portion corresponding to the tiles disappearedfrom the lock release screen may be remarkably revealed.

According to an embodiment, the mobile terminal 200 provides anon-visual feedback for displaying the advancement to user inputcondition satisfaction in addition to a visual feedback. The additionalfeedback may include an auditory feedback (for instance, sound) or aphysical feedback (for instance, vibration).

According to an embodiment, the feature of lock/lock release may beapplicable to a specific application being implemented on the mobileterminal 100 as an opposite way to the mobile terminal 100 as a whole.In some embodiments, a lock release gesture allows an application to beswitched to another one, and a phone application to be switched to amusic player or in an opposite manner. The feature of lock/lock releasemay include a hold or pause characteristic. According to an embodiment,when the user switches a first application to a second application, theuser interface for the second application is faded in (or increased instrength), and the user interface for the first application is faded out(or decreased in strength). The fade-in and fade-out may be generated ina flat manner for a predetermined period of time, for example, 0.2, 1 or2 seconds. The predetermined period of time may follow a lock releasegesture as a time required for the user to take the gesture.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating the process of providing anapplication or event while switching the mobile terminal 100 into a userinterface lock release state according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

The mobile terminal 100 is set to a lock state (S210). As describedabove, the mobile terminal 100 may be set to a lock state when one ormore lock conditions are satisfied (in other words, complete switchingfrom another state to a lock state). The mobile terminal 100 may displaya lock screen in a lock state. According to the present embodiment, thelock screen may include an object associated with an application orevent. When an object is selected by the user in a lock release state,the mobile terminal 100 may display an application or event. However,when if the object is selected by the user in a lock state, the mobileterminal 100 may not immediately display the corresponding applicationor event. In other words, the corresponding application or event isdisplayed when the lock state of the mobile terminal 100 is released.

The mobile terminal 100 detects a contact at a location where an objecton the touch screen is displayed (S220). The mobile terminal 100 mayprepare an application corresponding to an object applicable to thelocation where the contact is detected on the touch screen. Theapplication corresponding to an object applicable to the location wherethe contact is detected on the touch screen may maintain an executionstate even in the lock state. Alternatively, the applicationcorresponding to an object applicable to the location where the contactis detected on the touch screen may be switched into an execution statewhen the contact is detected. In any case, the mobile terminal 100should be prepared to display an application corresponding to an objectapplicable to the detected location after the contact is detected on thetouch screen.

The mobile terminal 100 displays a lock release region corresponding tothe location where the contact is detected on the touch screen (S230).The lock release region may be displayed by using the application orevent corresponding to an object applicable to the location at which thecontact is detected. For example, as described above, an application orevent corresponding to the relevant object may be displayed through agap generated by dividing a lock release region into a plurality oftiles, and changing at least one of location and size of the pluralityof tiles.

The mobile terminal 100 displays the movement of a contact in the lockrelease region (S240). The movement of a contact in the lock releaseregion may be a feedback to the user's gesture for releasing the lock.For example, at least one tile corresponding to the movement of acontact in the lock release region among tiles formed in the step S230may be allowed to be disappeared to display the movement of a contact inthe lock release region.

When the contact corresponds to a successful behavior of the lockrelease operation in step S250, namely, when the user successfullyperforms the lock release operation, the mobile terminal 100 is switchedinto a lock release state (S260). Furthermore, the mobile terminal 100may display an application or event corresponding to the relevant objectwhile being switched into a lock release state.

When the contact does not correspond to an attempt for performing a lockrelease operation or the contact corresponds to a failure or suspensionof the attempt by the user performing a lock release operation in stepS250, the mobile terminal 100 maintains a lock release state (S270).

FIGS. 12A through 12E are views illustrating the display of GUI atvarious positions where a lock release operation gesture is takenaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 12A, the mobile terminal 300 is locked and displays alock screen 302. The lock screen 302 may display an object 304associated with an application or event.

Referring to FIG. 12B, the user makes contact with the touch screen ofthe mobile terminal 300 to start a lock release operation. The usermakes a contact with the touch screen at a location where the object 304is displayed thereon. The users contact with the touch screen at alocation where the object 304 is displayed thereon is detected by themobile terminal 300, and the mobile terminal 300 displays a lock releaseregion 306 containing a region in which the object 304 is located. Thelock release region 306 may be continuously displayed while the usermaintaining a contact on the touch screen. As described above, themobile terminal 300 may divide the touch screen into a plurality oftiles, and change at least one of location and size of tilesconstituting the lock release region 306 containing a tile correspondingto the object 304 on the touch screen, thereby allowing an applicationor event to be displayed at a gap between the tiles. In this case, themobile terminal 300 allows a tile corresponding to the object 304 to bedisappeared, thereby remarkably displaying the application or event forthe relevant portion.

Referring to FIG. 12C, the user moves his or her finger whilemaintaining a continuous contact with the touch screen, therebyparticipating in the process of taking a gesture. As a result of thegesture, an application or event 308 of the tile corresponding to themovement of the contact may be remarkably displayed. In this case, ananimation effect may be implemented such that a tile corresponding tothe movement of the contact is rotated around a predetermined axis,flown out of the screen, or disappeared.

Referring to FIG. 12D, the user subsequently moves his or her fingerwhile maintaining a continuous contact with the touch screen, therebyparticipating in the process of taking a gesture. As a result of thegesture, an application or event 308 of the tile corresponding to themovement of the contact may be remarkably revealed. When the movement ofthe users contact satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, whenbrought into contact with three or more tiles), and if the user releaseshis or her finger from the touch screen, then the lock release operationis completed. During the completion of a lock release gesture, themobile terminal 200 is lock-released to display the application or event308 on the touch screen.

FIG. 12E illustrates an example of the application or event 308 that canbe displayed when the mobile terminal 200 is lock-released.

FIGS. 13A through 13C are views illustrating the display of GUI atvarious positions where a lock release operation gesture is takenaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

When a predetermined condition is satisfied without considering that theusers contact with the touch screen may be a lock release operation, thelock state of the mobile terminal 400 may be released. For example, aflick gesture performed on the touch screen is a quick finger sweepingdrag, and the mobile terminal 400 can determine whether a predeterminedcondition is satisfied without displaying a lock release region during agesture performed in a quick period of time.

Referring to FIG. 13A, the mobile terminal 400 may include a touchscreen for displaying a lock screen 402 in a lock state. According to anembodiment, the touch screen may be in a sleep mode and/or a state inwhich nothing is displayed thereon at first, and may be displayed by themobile terminal 400 when an event requiring the user's notice occurs(for example, incoming call or message) or during the users intervention(for example, a menu button (not shown) for displaying a lock screen isdisplayed while the mobile terminal 400 is locked).

Referring to FIG. 13B, the user drags the touch screen of the mobileterminal 400 using his or her finger to start a lock release operation.The lock release operation may include a drag and release operationbeing carried out by the user from an arbitrary location to anotherlocation on the touch screen. For example, the lock release operationmay include an operation for quickly dragging from a corner of the touchscreen to another corner thereof and then releasing it. For anotherexample, the lock release operation may include an operation for quicklydragging from an edge of the touch screen to the edge of the oppositeside thereof and then releasing it. The mobile terminal 400 may exposean idle screen or a screen 404 displayed prior to the lock state at aportion brought into contact according to the user's drag. The mobileterminal 400 detects the length and/or speed of a drag, and the lockstate of the mobile terminal 400 can be released when a predeterminedcondition (for example, a drag is carried out on three or more tiles orthe drag and release operation is completed within 0.1 second. When thelength and/or speed of the drag does not satisfy a predeterminedcondition, the mobile terminal 400 continuously maintains the lockstate.

Referring to FIG. 13C, when the length and/or speed of the dragsatisfies a predetermined condition, the mobile terminal 400 may releasethe lock state of the mobile terminal 400, and completely expose an idlescreen or a screen 404 displayed by the mobile terminal 400 prior to thelock state. As the lock screen 402 is scrolled from a portion dragged bythe user to an edge portion, the mobile terminal 400 may graduallyexpose an idle screen or a screen 404 displayed by the mobile terminal400 prior to the lock state.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the mobileterminal provides a sensible and sensuous guide and feedback for a lockrelease operation, thereby having an effect of enhancing a degree offreedom of a gesture for the lock release operation.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, aguide and feedback for a lock release operation is provided using anapplication or event, thereby having an effect of providing userexperience through an intuitive interface.

It should be understood that the foregoing embodiments are merelyillustrative but not restrictive in all aspects. The scope of thepresent invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by thedetailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from themeaning, scope and equivalent concept of the claims should be construedto be embraced by the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of releasing a mobile terminal having atouch sensing display from a user interface lock state, the methodcomprising: detecting, in the user interface lock state, contact by anexternal object with the touch sensing display at a location on thetouch sensing display, the contacted location being a first contactlocation; displaying, on the touch sensing display, a lock releaseregion corresponding to the first contact location when the contact atthe first contact location is maintained for at least a pre-set periodof time; sensing movement of the external object, which is still incontact with the touch sensing display, from the first contact locationto a second contact location on the touch sensing display; displaying,on the touch sensing display, at least one change in the lock releaseregion in response to the sensed movement; and switching from the userinterface lock state into a user interface lock release state when thesensed movement satisfies a predetermined condition for releasing themobile terminal from the user interface lock state.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: displaying the lock release region comprisesdisplaying at least part of a lock release screen within the lockrelease region; and the lock release screen is a screen displayed whenthe mobile terminal is in the user interface lock release state.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein: the screen displayed when the mobileterminal is in the user interface lock release state includes an objectthat is responsive when the object is touched by the external object;and the object included in the lock release screen of the lock releaseregion is not responsive when the object is touched by the externalobject.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the lock releaseregion further comprises: displaying a plurality of sub-regions over theat least part of the lock release screen within the lock release regionsuch that the at least part of the lock release screen is obscured bythe plurality of sub-regions; and displaying the at least part of thelock release screen partially at a gap formed between the plurality ofsub-regions such that portions of the at least part of the lock releasescreen that are not obscured by the plurality of sub-regions are visiblewithin the lock release region, wherein at least a location or a size ofat least one of the plurality of sub-regions changes in response to atleast the detected contact or the sensed movement.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein displaying the at least one change comprises: stoppingdisplaying at least one of the plurality of sub-regions such that moreportions of the at least part of the lock release screen are displayedwithin the lock release region as a number of the plurality ofsub-regions in the lock release region decreases.
 6. The method of claim4, wherein the at least location or size is changed based on at leastduration of the contact, a location of the at least detected contact orsensed movement, pressure strength of the detected contact, or a speedof the sensed movement.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondcontact location is within the lock release region.
 8. The method ofclaim 2, wherein displaying the lock release region further comprises:displaying the lock release region as a plurality of sub-regions;controlling transparency of at least one of the plurality of sub-regionsin response to at least the detected contact or the sensed movement suchthat the at least part of the lock release screen becomes visible as thetransparency of the at least one of the plurality of sub-regions ischanged; and displaying the at least part of the lock release screenthrough the at least one of the plurality of sub-regions of which thetransparency has been changed.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereindisplaying the lock release region comprises: displaying a visual queueindicating a movement direction of the external object in contact withthe touch sensing display, wherein the visual queue is displayedtogether with the lock release region and movement of the externalobject according to the indicated movement direction allows the mobileterminal to be released from the user interface lock state.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is triggered whenthe external object is detected at a location of the touch sensingdisplay that generally corresponds to a defined area within the lockrelease region.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: remainingin the user interface lock state when the sensed movement does notsatisfy the predetermined condition.
 12. A mobile terminal, comprising:a touch sensing display; and a controller configured to: detect, in auser interface lock state, contact by an external object with the touchsensing display at a location on the touch sensing display; display, onthe touch sensing display, a lock release region corresponding to thelocation in contact with the external object when the contact ismaintained for at least a pre-set period of time; sense movement of theexternal object, which is still in contact with the touch sensingdisplay, from the contacted location to a different location on thetouch sensing display; display, on the touch sensing display, at leastone change in the lock release region in response to the sensedmovement; and switch from the user interface lock state into a userinterface lock release state when the sensed movement satisfies apredetermined condition for releasing the mobile terminal from the userinterface lock state, wherein the predetermined condition is triggeredwhen the external object is detected at a location of the touch sensingdisplay that generally corresponds to a defined area within the lockrelease region.
 13. A method of releasing a mobile terminal having atouch sensing display from a user interface lock state, the methodcomprising: displaying an object on the touch sensing display during theuser interface lock state; detecting, in the user interface lock state,contact by an external object with the touch sensing display at aspecific location where the objected is displayed; displaying, on thetouch sensing display, a lock release region corresponding to thespecific location when the contact at the specific location ismaintained for at least a pre-set period of time, the lock releaseregion including at least a partial screen associated with the object;sensing movement of the external object, which is still in contact withthe touch sensing display, from the specific location to a differentlocation on the touch sensing display; displaying, on the touch sensingdisplay, at least one change in the lock release region in response tothe sensed movement; and switching from the user interface lock stateinto a user interface lock release state when the sensed movementsatisfies a predetermined condition for releasing the mobile terminalfrom the user interface lock state.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising: displaying a full screen associated with the object when themobile terminal is switched into the user interface lock release state.15. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying the lock release regioncomprises: displaying a plurality of sub-regions within the lock releaseregion such that the plurality of sub-regions overlap portions of the atleast a partial screen associated with the object; and displaying the atleast a partial screen associated with the object partially at a gapformed between the plurality of sub-regions such that portions of the atleast a partial screen associated with the object that are not coveredby the plurality of sub-regions are visible within the lock releaseregion, wherein at least a location or a size of at least one of theplurality of sub-regions changes in response to at least the detectedcontact or the sensed movement.
 16. The method of claim 15, whereindisplaying the at least one change comprises: stopping displaying atleast one of the plurality of sub-regions such that more portions of theat least a partial screen associated with the object are displayedwithin the lock release region as a number of the plurality ofsub-regions in the lock release region decreases.
 17. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising: displaying different portions of the atleast a partial screen associated with the object within the lockrelease region according to the movement of the external object.
 18. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the at least a partial screen associatedwith the object comprises a screen associated with an application orevent corresponding to the object.
 19. The method of claim 13, whereindisplaying the lock release region comprises: displaying a visual queueindicating a movement direction of the external object in contact withtouch sensing display, wherein the visual queue is displayed togetherwith the lock release region and movement of the external objectaccording to the indicated movement direction allows the mobile terminalto be released from the user interface lock state.
 20. A mobileterminal, comprising: a touch sensing display configured to display anobject in a user interface lock state; and a controller configured to:detect, in the user interface lock state, contact by an external objectwith the touch sensing display at a specific location where the objectedis displayed; display, on the touch sensing display, a lock releaseregion corresponding to the specific location, the lock release regionincluding at least a partial screen associated with the object when thecontact at the specific location is maintained for at least a pre-setperiod of time; sense movement of the external object, which is still incontact with the touch sensing display, from the specific location to adifferent location on the touch sensing display; display, on the touchsensing display, at least one change in the lock release region inresponse to the sensed movement; and switch from the user interface lockstate into a user interface lock release state when the sensed movementsatisfies a predetermined condition for releasing the mobile terminalfrom the user interface lock state.